The Journey of the Poliovirus to Gaza
The recent discovery of the poliovirus that led to the paralysis of a child in Gaza marks a significant public health concern, being the first such case in the region in 25 years. This virus has traveled an extensive and complex path, likely originating in Nigeria.
According to genetic analysis, the virus made its way to Chad, where it was first identified in 2019. From there, it spread to Sudan in 2020 before finding a foothold in Egypt, specifically in unvaccinated communities in Luxor and North Sinai, which are adjacent to Gaza.
This troubling journey can be traced back to a pivotal decision made by global health organizations in 2016 to reduce the use of the oral polio vaccine. This strategy, commonly referred to as “the switch,” was aimed at eradicating the disease entirely. Unfortunately, this well-intentioned initiative has inadvertently resulted in outbreaks of polio across numerous countries, leading to the paralysis of more than 3,300 children worldwide.
A formal evaluation commissioned by the global polio eradication program and conducted by two independent experts delivered a stark assessment of this decision: “The switch was an unqualified failure.”
As a direct consequence of this failure, health officials are now engaged in a frantic effort to vaccinate hundreds of thousands of children in Gaza, a region devastated by conflict—precisely the type of environment where polio can flourish. The effectiveness of these vaccination efforts in controlling the virus in Gaza remains uncertain.
Despite the challenges, health workers are actively mobilizing to distribute polio vaccines throughout central Gaza. Remarkably, they have achieved success in immunizing a significantly larger number of children than initially anticipated, showcasing the dedication of public health efforts in the face of adversity. Credit: Eyad Baba/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
